The Dragons have thrown wayward hooker Craig Garvey a career lifeline.

They have reinstated the 21-year-old former National Youth Competition captain on a contract subject to a number of behavioural clauses.

Garvey, who has spent the bulk of his time with the Dragons NRL squad as understudy to regular rake Mitch Rein, was in September sentenced to 300 hours' community service for assaulting a man at the Hotel Illawarra in February.

The incident saw Garvey stood down and fined by the club, though he returned to the NRL squad after four weeks and made his only NRL appearance of the season in the Dragons round 13 victory over Cronulla in Wollongong as Rein served a one-week suspension for a lifting tackle.

Garvey played no further part in the Dragons' season - though he continued to play for the Illawarra Cutters - with Shane Pumipi sharing the hooking duties with Rein as the club awaited the outcome of the case.

Garvey was stood down again in September following his assault conviction in which the magistrate, Mark Richardson, rejected claims he had been acting in self-defence when he repeatedly punched the man.

But Mr Richardson decided against a potential two-year suspended jail sentence, accepting that Garvey's behaviour was "an aberration" and that he was "basically a law-abiding person who makes a contribution to the community."

The conviction left Garvey in limbo before he was reinstated by the club this week.

The club said his "adjusted" contract cleared the way for him to return to training and playing duties.

"The St George Illawarra Dragons have announced that Craig Garvey has been reinstated into the full-time first-grade squad after consultation and approval by the NRL," the club said.

"It is acknowledged that Garvey was found guilty of an assault offence in September and was required to undertake community service.

"Throughout his time away from rugby league, the Dragons and the NRL have worked with Craig from an education and welfare perspective and have now reached the conclusion that he is able to return to training with an adjusted NRL playing contract that includes confidential clauses in relation to his behaviour as a result of this incident.

"Garvey has joined his teammates and the club will make no further comment on the matter."

Garvey returned to training on Tuesday, looking to resume his career and battle with veteran new signing Heath L'Estrange, Rein's 2015 back-up.